Gordon League are looking upwards as they reflect on their best performance of the season so far.

They overcame high-flying Nailsea & Backwell 19-17 in their most recent outing, inflicting just a third defeat of the campaign on the visitors who arrived in Gloucester in second place in Counties 1 Western North.

It was Gordon League’s fourth win in 10 games after winning promotion – they have also drawn one – and chairman Nigel McMahon said: “It was an excellent win, we played very well against a good side.”

Two tries by wing Kaian Buhagiar and one by second row Kiernan Raybould – Ciarnan Sysum converted two – earned them the victory and McMahon continued: “We were 12-5 up at half-time, we stuck it on them a bit. But we were trailing 17-12 before we scored 10 minutes from time.”

Gordon League’s previous wins have all come against teams in the bottom half of the 12-strong division – Chard, Burnham-on-Sea and Bridgwater & Albion – while their draw was against bottom-of-the-table Cinderford 2nds.

Saturday’s win lifted them up to eighth and McMahon said: “There’s a simple explanation for why we did so well against Nailsea, everyone was available.

“It’s the first time this season we’ve had our strongest squad out, there were no unavailable players or injuries.”

McMahon is hoping that will be case on Saturday, too, when last season's Counties 2 Gloucestershire North champions host fifth-placed Old Redcliffians 2nds.

“We found it bit tough at the start of the season,” admitted McMahon. “It’s better rugby and harder rugby, there’s a greater physicality.

“But we lost to Chosen Hill by two points in a game we should have won and we should have beaten Cinderford.”

Gordon League face trips to Taunton 2nds and Clifton 2nds before Christmas – both teams are in the top four – but McMahon is looking ahead with optimism.

“We know we’re not going to get promoted but we’d like to win a few more games,” he said. “If we can finish mid-table that would be a good season.

“We’ve got some good young players coming through and we’ve got a very good under-17 side, some of those will start playing adult rugby after Christmas.

“It’s all positive for the rest of the season.”